Retainer lock for draft gear key of a railway car



Jan. 13, 1970 I J. H. SONGER RETAINER LOOK FOR DRAFT GEAR KEY OF A RAILWAY CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1968 Yr m \\o N J INVENTOR. JOHN H. SONGER ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1970 J. H. SONGER 3,489,053

RETAINER LOOK FOR DRAFT GEAR KEY OF A RAILWAY CAR Filed March 19, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. SONGER Jan. 13, 1970 RETAINER LOCK FOR DRAFT GEAR KEY OF A RAILWAY CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 19, 1968 United States Patent O US. Cl. 85-5 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A retainer lock for the draft gear key of a railway car and the method of forming the retainer lock from a one piece flat blank, The one piece blank is folded into a generally U-shaped member which fits over the side of a draft gear key extending horizontally from a center sill. Projections on one side of the Ushaped member adjacent the center sill extend from. the end portions of the retainer lock alongside the outer surface of the side sill to face the sill and prevent the retainer lock from interfering with the slot in the center sill for the draft gear key. A projection on the other side of the retainer lock adjacent the upper end portion is adapted to be folded downwardly over the head of a retainer pin extending through aligned openings in the retainer lock and key for retaining the draft gear key in place.

Background of the invention Retainer locks for draft gear keys have been used previously. However, the prior art retainer locks have been formed from more than one piece and have commonly employed a projecting tab welded to the retainer lock for folding over a retainer pin. Further, the retainer locks heretofore have been fitted about the end of the horizontally extending draft gear key.

Description of the invention The present invention comprises a retainer lock which is formed from a one piece flat metallic blank and is adapted to fit over the side of the draft gear key. An elongate blank has a bulbous portion at each end and a strap portion extending between and connecting the bulbous end portions. Each bulbous end portion has an open ing therein and a portion of each bulbous portion on one side of the blank is folded along a fold line extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strap portion to a perpendicular position with respect to the face of the blank. A tab on the other side of the blank adjacent one of the bulbous end portions is also folded in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strap portion. After folding of the blank into a generally U-shaped member, the retainer lock may be positioned over the side of a horizontal draft gear key with a retainer pin being received within vertically aligned openings in the key and retainer lock. Then the tab is folded downwardly over the head of the retainer pin to prevent re moval of the pin.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIGURE 1 is a cross section of a center sill for a railway car illustrating a draft gear key extending through the center sill and being secured outwardly of the center sill by the retainer lock comprising the present invention;

FIGURE .2 is an enlarged top plan of the extending draft gear key with the retainer lock mounted over a side of the key;

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FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the draft gear key and retainer lock shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the draft gear key and retainer lock shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 with the retainer pin shown removed from the retainer lock and the retainer lock in position for receiving the retainer pin;

FIGURE 5 is a plan of one piece blank from which the retainer lock is formed;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation after the blank has been folded into the retainer lock and prior to the insertion of the retainer lock over the draft gear key;

FIGURE 7 is an end elevation of the retainer lock shown in FIGURE 6; and,

FIGURE 8 is a plan of the retainer lock shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention and more particularly to FIGURES 1-4, a center sill of a railway car is generally indicated 10. Center sill 10 is generally hat-shaped and has sides 12 connected by upper plate 14. A coupler having a shank 16 extends within the open outer end of center sill 10 and is connected to a yoke 18 by a horizontally extending draft gear key generally indicated 20. Elongate slots 21 in sides 12 of center sill 10 and aligned elongate slots 24 in yoke 18 receive key 20. Key 20 extends through opening 26 in coupler shank 16. A conventional draft gear generally indicated 28 is positioned rearwardly of draft key 20 and comprises a plurality of rubber pads separated by metal plates.

Draft gear key 20 thus forms, a connector between coupler shank 16 and yoke 18 for transmitting coupler forces therebetween. A head 30 on one end of draft gear key 20 prevents removal of key 20 from one side of center sill 10. A retainer lock generally indicated 22 and comprising the present invention prevents removal of key 20 from the oher side of center sill 10.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 5, retainer lock 22 is formed from an elongate one piece flat metallic blank B. Blank B includes enlarged bulbous end portions 24 and 26 connected by a strap portion 27. End portions 24 and 26 have respective central openings 28 and 30. A tab 32 extends outwardly from a side of bulbous portion 26. To form retainer lock 22 for insertion about the side of draft gear key 20, lateral side portions 34 and 36 of respective end portions 24, 26 are folded up wardly about fold lines L to a perpendicular position with respect to the face of blank B. Tab 32 is folded up wardly about line F to a perpendicular position with respect to the face of blank B.

Next, strap 27 is folded to the position shown in FIG- URE 6 to form a generally U-shaped or yoke-like mem her in which openings 28 and 30 are vertically aligned and bulbous end portions 24 and 26 are spaced from each other a distance suflicient to receive draft gear key 20 therebetween. In this position, retainer lock 22 is inserted over a side draft gear key 20 as shown in FIGURE 4 and a retainer pin 38 having an elongate head 40 is inserted within openings 28 and 30 vertically aligned with an opening 42 in draft gear key 20. After retainer pin 38 is inserted with head 40 resting against end portion 26, tab 32 is folded over head 40 as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3 to form an upper tab portion 32A over the top of head 40 and a lower tab portion 32B along the side of head 40. A suitable cotter pin 44 is inserted within an opening 46 in pin 38.

Thus, retainer lock 22 is easily formed from a one piece flat metallic blank and easily fits over a side of draft gear key 20. Projections 34 and 36 fit easily against the adjacent surface of center sill 12 in the event draft gear key 20 slips laterally. Projections 34 and 36 thus prevent retainer lock 22 from being moved within the area of adjacent elongate slot 21 in center sill 10 upon a lateral slippage of key 20 toward the adjacent surface of side 12.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advan tageous results obtained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car having a center sill, a draft gear within the center sill, and an elongate draft gear key extending outwardly from a side of the center sill; the improvement of a retainer lock for the draft gear key, said retainer lock comprising a yoke-like member formed of a one piece blank and fitting about a side of the draft gear key closely adjacent the outer surface of the side of said center sill, said yoke-like member having a pair of aligned openings in vertical alignment with an opening in the draft gear key and a projection adjacent each opening in the yoke-like member extending alongside and in facing contact with the adjacent side of the center sill, a retainer pin within the aligned openings having an enlarged head above the upper opening, and a retainer tab on the yoke-like member adjacent the upper opening bent over the head of .the pin to secure the pin within the openings for preventing removal thereof.

2. In a railway car having a center sill, a coupler mounted within the center sill, a draft gear within the center sill rearwardly of the coupler, and an elongate draft gear key extending outwardly from a side of the center sill and connecting the coupler to the draft gear; the improvement of a retainer lock for the draft gear key, said retainer lock comprising a U-shaped member formed of a one piece blank and having an enlarged end portion adjacent each end thereof with a central opening therein, said U-shaped member fitting over a side of the draft gear key closely adjacent the outer surface of the side of said center sill with the central openings therein in vertical alignment with an opening in the draft gear key and a projection adjacent each central opening of the U-shaped member extending alongside and in facing contact with the adjacent side of said center sill, a retainer pin within the aligned openings having an enlarged head above the upper enlarged end portion, and a retainer tab on the U-shaped member adjacent the upper central opening bent over the head of the pin to secure the pin within the openings for preventing removal thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2l350.5, 69 

